Begonia Plant Named &#39;Fimissmo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Fimissmo’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; relatively compact habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and continuously flowering habit; and large double flowers that are cream in color with light pink-colored margins.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Begonia hybrida

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘FIMISSMO’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Fimissmo’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new freely branching and floweringBegonia plants with unique and attractive flower colors.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2012 of a proprietary selection of Begonia hybridaidentified as code number 208200-001, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent and a proprietary selection of Begonia hybrida identifiedas code number 210001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Aalsmeer,The Netherlands in 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlandssince 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fimissmo’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fimissmo’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; relatively        compact.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely and continuously flowering habit.    -   5. Large double flowers that are cream in color with light        pink-colored margins.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the proprietaryparent selections. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of theparent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more uniform than plants of the        parent selections.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely flowering than        plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia hybrida‘Filuckstr’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filedconcurrently. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of‘Filuckstr’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are not as freely branching as        plants of ‘Filuckstr’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Filuckstr’.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have double flowers whereas plants        of ‘Filuckstr’ have semi-double flowers.    -   4. Plants of the new Begonia have cream-colored flowers with        light pink-colored margins whereas plants of ‘Filuckstr’ have        yellow-colored flowers with apricot-colored margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Fimissmo’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the summer in aglass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 30° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were eight weeks oldwhen the photograph and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia hybrida ‘Fimissmo’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia            hybrida identified as code number 208200-001, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia            hybrida identified as code number 210001, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days            at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 28 days            at temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; whitish grey            in color; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed            to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and            mounded plant habit; relatively compact; pendulous with            development; freely basal branching with about seven primary            branches; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 17 cm to 24 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Internode length: About 0.6 cm            to 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 185A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 11 cm to 13 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Shape:            Ovate to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin:            Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 178A and 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 178A and 143D.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;            venation, close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 143D; venation, close to 143D. Petioles:            Length: About 4 cm to 8.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 178B. Color, lower surface: Close to            178C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Large double flowers arranged in axillary            cymes; freely flowering habit with numerous flowers            developing per plant; flowers pendulous and face outwardly            to downwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants in full flower about eight            weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the garden            plants flower freely and continuously throughout the summer            in Northern Europe and can be flowered year-round in            greenhouses.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four weeks            on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 12 cm to 17            cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11 cm to 13 cm.        -   Inflorescence peduncles.—Length: About 10 cm to 14 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Angle: About 30° to 45° from            vertical. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 179C.        -   Female flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter:            About 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 160C and 63B.        -   Female flowers.—Diameter: About 8.5 cm to 9 cm. Depth            (height): About 2 cm.        -   Female flower tepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:            Typically five per flower arranged in a single whorl.            Length: About 4 cm to 4.5 cm. Width: About 2 cm to 3 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 159A;            towards the margins, close to 65D; color does not fade with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 159A; towards the margins, close to 63B; color does            not fade with development.        -   Female flower tepaloids.—None observed.        -   Female flower pedicels.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 4 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Aspect: About 90° from            peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 179C.        -   Female flowers reproductive organs.—Quantity of pistils per            flower: Three. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style length:            About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma shape:            Curled. Stigma color: Close to 13A. Ovary color: Close to            145A. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not            been observed on plants of the new Begonia.        -   Male flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Diameter:            About 2.5 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 60C and 63B.        -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 9 cm to 12 cm. Depth (height):            About 4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Male flower tepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:            Typically about four or five per flower arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 3.5 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 2 cm to            3.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 159A; towards the margins, close to 65D; color does not            fade with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 159A; towards the margins, close to 65B;            color does not fade with development.        -   Male flower tepaloids.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:            Typically about 30 arranged in multiple whorls. Length:            About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm to 3 cm. Shape:            Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 27B;            towards the margins, close to 52B; color does not fade with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 27B; towards the margins, close to 52B; color does            not fade with development.        -   Male flower pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2            mm to 4 mm. Aspect: About 90° from peduncle axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 179C.        -   Male flowers reproductive organs.—None observed; all            transformed into tepaloids.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Fimissmo’ asillustrated and described.